Psychometric Properties of the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) in the Iranian Older Adults

• Main Authors: Mavali S, Mahmoodi H, Sarbakhsh P, Shaghaghi A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2020-08-01
• Series: Psychology Research and Behavior Management
• Subjects: older adults; iran; mental wellbeing
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/psychometric-properties-of-the-warwickndashedinburgh-mental-wellbeing--peer-reviewed-article-PRBM

Sonia Mavali,1 Hassan Mahmoodi,2 Parvin Sarbakhsh,3 Abdolreza Shaghaghi1 1Department of Health Education and Promotion, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medial Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; 2Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran; 3Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medial Sciences, Tabriz, IranCorrespondence: Abdolreza ShaghaghiDepartment of Health Education and Promotion, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medial Sciences, Tabriz 51666614711, IranTel +009 411 333622Email [e-mail]: Mental wellbeing is considered as an important and effective factor in older adults’ psychological health. Due to lack of a standard instrument for the assessment of mental wellbeing in Iranian older adults, the present study was performed to examine validity and reliability of the Persian version of the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS-P) for use among Iranian older adults.Patients and Methods: The study sample included 304 older adults aged 60 and over, admitted to the Shohada Educational Hospital affiliated to the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, North West of Iran. The participants were recruited through the convenience sampling method in May to September 2017.Results: The mean and standard deviation of the mental wellbeing score were 50.30 and 8.82, respectively. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) results demonstrated a one-factor solution with 13 items which was verified by the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The estimated internal consistency measure of Cronbach’s alpha (0.93) and two weeks’ time test-retest reliability index (0.84) met the prerequisite criteria.Conclusion: According to the results, the WEMWBS-P with 13 items has acceptable validity and reliability to assess the mental wellbeing of Iranian and other Persian-speaking older adults.Keywords: older adults, Iran, mental wellbeing